"Doctor Strange" (2016)
As soon as Jasper Sitwell mentioned Stephen Strange to Steve Rogers on that rooftop in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," you knew it was only a matter of time before the MCU was introduced to its Sorcerer Supreme. It was announced in 2014 that "Sherlock"s Benedict Cumberbatch was announced in the titular role with Scott Derrickson directing. The film was set up to introduce a new corner to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We had gotten a glimpse of the intergalactic corner and now it was time to check out the mystical side of the MCU.
"Doctor Strange" began principal photography in November 2015 and wrapped on April 3, 2016. Along with Cumberbatch in the starring role, "Doctor Strange" also starred Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, Benedict Wong as Wong, Mads Mikkelson as Kaecilius and Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One. The film was written by John Spaihts, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill and directed by Scott Derrickson. It was released in theaters on November 4, 2016.
The thing that I think is the most distinct about "Doctor Strange" is its visual language. It has a really cool look and it is a look that is a lot different from the other films in the MCU, up to this point. Granted, it does borrow a lot of that language from "Inception," what with the folding buildings and all, but it adds to it, as well. Doctor Strange and the other mystics powers can be hard to show so I loved the addition of the orange rings and whips. It added an offensive capability that I hadn't really seen in other media featuring Doctor Strange. It's a super trippy movie and that leads to some really great visual sequences. The most impressive is when Strange meets Tilda Swinton's Ancient One for the first time. When she sends him on a literal out of body experience, it gives you whiplash but in the best way. That image of Strange with small hands on the tips of his fingers is an image that will always spring to mind when I think of this movie.
"Doctor Strange" ups the effects game, but when you boil it down, it is your standard Marvel origin story. Pretentious surgeon Stephen Strange is at the top of his game, until a car accident damages his hands beyond repair. After western medicine fails him, Strange learns about a man named Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt) who was seemingly healed from paralysis through methods learned in Kamar-Taj. The Ancient One initially rejects Strange because of his dickish ways but his persistence and the urging of Karl Mordo convinces her to give him a second chance. Eventually, Strange is pulled into a battle against one of her former students, Kaecilius and his disciples. A battle that leaves Mordo questioning his path.
Like I said, this is pretty standard Marvel origin stuff. A snarky douchebag with a heart of gold gets everything taken away from him but rises better than ever? Check. A thankless love interest role? Check. A pretty generic, forgettable villain? Check. Despite this snarky description, "Doctor Strange" isn't a bad movie and while it hits a lot of familiar beats, it hits them really, really well. A lot of it has to do with the pretty stellar casting. I'll admit I was hesitant about Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, but I shouldn't have been. Cumberbatch plays Strange as a more arrogant Tony Stark, which is the perfect way to do it. I enjoyed how while Strange came around by the end of the movie, he didn't become this lovable guy. He was an arrogant prick from the start and he basically stayed an arrogant prick the whole time. Rachel McAdams is a great actress, but this is another thankless girlfriend role.
My "Doctor Strange" VIPs are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton and Benedict Wong. I'd love to have Mads Mikkelsen on this list, but Kaecilius is so blah that not even Mads can bring much to him, which is a shame. If you've seen "Hannibal" or more recently played "Death Stranding," you know what a talent that Mads is and he's really squandered here. The character of Wong is re-tooled a bit for the film. In the comics, Wong is basically Strange's manservant which doesn't play well in the world of today. He's re-tooled to be another mystic in Kamar-Taj. His banter with Strange though is wonderful and their chemistry is delightful. Tilda Swinton's Ancient One is problematic. This was a great time for Marvel to cast an Asian actor in a role that should have gone to an Asian actor. It's disappointing that didn't happen. That being said, Tilda Swinton is Tilda Swinton. She's magnificent and brings gravitas and a touch of playfulness to the role that is really wonderful.
I mentioned him as a VIP, but Chiwetel Ejiofor is really the MVP of this movie. One way that "Doctor Strange" circumvents the standard MCU origin story is by making it the origin story of not just the hero, but of his greatest nemesis Baron Karl Mordo. In the comics, Mordo is kind of a generic, mustache twirling villain except he is a sorcerer, too. In the film, he is a devoted student of the Ancient One. He stands by Strange. When Strange begins questioning what the Ancient One is doing, Mordo is the first person to stand up for her. The problem is that Mordo is a true believer. He sees things in black and white. There are no shades of gray. Strange doesn't initially see the big picture when he reveals the Ancient One's nature defying ways to Mordo. Where Strange eventually begins to see the greater good of it all, Mordo is too rigid to bend. It's the hallmark of a great heel turn that you have lots of empathy of Mordo even though you know this won't end well for him.
"Doctor Strange" furthers the overarching Infinity Saga by introducing the Eye of Agamotto aka the Time Stone to the MCU. It's probably the coolest Infinity Stone yet when it comes to powers. I'm sorry, I don't care who you are watching things reverse is just fun. The climax of the film which features Doctor Strange repeatedly going up against Dormammu is a hoot but maybe goes on a hair too long. The film ends with Doctor Strange taking up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme and taking up residence in the Greenwich Village Sanctum Santorum.
"Doctor Strange" features two of my favorite after credits scenes. The mid is a snippet from "Thor Ragnarok" where Strange offers the Thunder God a never ending glass of mead, but it's the after that really sticks with you. Mordo confronts Jonathan Pangborn in his garage and decides that the best way to correct the Ancient One's "wrongs" is to take back magic from those who don't deserve it. Mordo standing over the once again crippled Pangborn is legitimately chilling and has my hopes very high for the Strange sequel, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."
What do you guys think? Do you love "Doctor Strange?" Are you bored of the patented MCU origin formula? Let me know in the comments.
Next up, we head back into space with the Guardians and a living planet.
"Doctor Strange" began principal photography in November 2015 and wrapped on April 3, 2016. Along with Cumberbatch in the starring role, "Doctor Strange" also starred Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, Benedict Wong as Wong, Mads Mikkelson as Kaecilius and Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One. The film was written by John Spaihts, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill and directed by Scott Derrickson. It was released in theaters on November 4, 2016.
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| What consent? |
"Doctor Strange" ups the effects game, but when you boil it down, it is your standard Marvel origin story. Pretentious surgeon Stephen Strange is at the top of his game, until a car accident damages his hands beyond repair. After western medicine fails him, Strange learns about a man named Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt) who was seemingly healed from paralysis through methods learned in Kamar-Taj. The Ancient One initially rejects Strange because of his dickish ways but his persistence and the urging of Karl Mordo convinces her to give him a second chance. Eventually, Strange is pulled into a battle against one of her former students, Kaecilius and his disciples. A battle that leaves Mordo questioning his path.
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| And it's time, time, time... |
My "Doctor Strange" VIPs are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton and Benedict Wong. I'd love to have Mads Mikkelsen on this list, but Kaecilius is so blah that not even Mads can bring much to him, which is a shame. If you've seen "Hannibal" or more recently played "Death Stranding," you know what a talent that Mads is and he's really squandered here. The character of Wong is re-tooled a bit for the film. In the comics, Wong is basically Strange's manservant which doesn't play well in the world of today. He's re-tooled to be another mystic in Kamar-Taj. His banter with Strange though is wonderful and their chemistry is delightful. Tilda Swinton's Ancient One is problematic. This was a great time for Marvel to cast an Asian actor in a role that should have gone to an Asian actor. It's disappointing that didn't happen. That being said, Tilda Swinton is Tilda Swinton. She's magnificent and brings gravitas and a touch of playfulness to the role that is really wonderful.
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| Let me tell ya about my best friend... |
"Doctor Strange" furthers the overarching Infinity Saga by introducing the Eye of Agamotto aka the Time Stone to the MCU. It's probably the coolest Infinity Stone yet when it comes to powers. I'm sorry, I don't care who you are watching things reverse is just fun. The climax of the film which features Doctor Strange repeatedly going up against Dormammu is a hoot but maybe goes on a hair too long. The film ends with Doctor Strange taking up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme and taking up residence in the Greenwich Village Sanctum Santorum.
"Doctor Strange" features two of my favorite after credits scenes. The mid is a snippet from "Thor Ragnarok" where Strange offers the Thunder God a never ending glass of mead, but it's the after that really sticks with you. Mordo confronts Jonathan Pangborn in his garage and decides that the best way to correct the Ancient One's "wrongs" is to take back magic from those who don't deserve it. Mordo standing over the once again crippled Pangborn is legitimately chilling and has my hopes very high for the Strange sequel, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."
What do you guys think? Do you love "Doctor Strange?" Are you bored of the patented MCU origin formula? Let me know in the comments.
Next up, we head back into space with the Guardians and a living planet.
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